career break

shortcrust

motivate6 wrote: »

When you said that the contact ended did they ask more questions?

Nope. Loads of people work on contracts so it's not a big deal. I've been involved in a lot of recruitment since then and if someone told me their contact had ended a couple of months ago and they'd got a decent reference I wouldn't think anything of it. My previous employers were happy to state 'end of contract' as my reason for leaving if asked. Again, because it's true.

cupid07 wrote: »

I forgot superstars are completely different to the average person. Even kanye West is in 53 million of debt........but no hes just been "resting" for the past 3 years.

Why does society say we have to be working ALL THE DAMN TIME? If someone has savings and wants to live off that - thats their choice. If someone wants to go travelling - thats their choice. If people are supporting themselves its nobodies business, unemployment has negative connotations and you know nothing about the OPs situation. A positive approach to this is whats needed.

No one says you have to be working ALL THE DAMN TIME. People can do what they want - it is their choice and that's fine. However, employers can do what they want too, and they're allowed to recruit people with the strongest work history. Unemployment does have negative connotations, but those connotations are nowhere near as negative as a two or three month career break. Rightly or wrongly an employer will think that something went wrong. Any attempt to put a positive spin on it will probably only reinforce that suspicion.

getmore4less

shortcrust wrote: »

My previous employers were happy to state 'end of contract' as my reason for leaving if asked. Again, because it's true.

End of contract is true for every termination or resignation.

cupid07

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'm all for people having choices and not just living to work but you have to accept that certain choices will have certain effects and you can't complain if others view your choices in a less positive way than you do and if they have a more negative effect than you'd expected.

I'm curious as to why its "less positive" to have a career break? So if someones having a mental breakdown at work - just carry on right? better not take a break incase others see it as "less positive" choice. Theres a million and one reasons someone may want a career break, this sort of attitude is what makes people suffer in silence and carry on working in toxic environments.

NewShadow

I may be interpreting MissB's mind a little, but I think she'll agree it depends on the 'career break'.

Taking 6 months to travel, or study, or recovering/recharging after a significant life event (which might include health issues), is a little different than 6 months sat watching day time tv and taking the occasional day course at the local college.

I think people appreciate a broad range of life experiences in their potential staff, but they have to be experiences with a perceived value that have 'improved' the candidate. Otherwise it's just a fancy way of selling 'unemployed/couldn't be ar5ed.

theoretica

A 'career break' is defined by what it is not. Many other gaps from working are defined by what they are - extended holiday, doing up a house, parental leave. So I think I would agree that a career break is less positive - running away rather than running towards.

motivate6

cupid07 wrote: »

I'm curious as to why its "less positive" to have a career break? So if someones having a mental breakdown at work - just carry on right? better not take a break incase others see it as "less positive" choice. Theres a million and one reasons someone may want a career break, this sort of attitude is what makes people suffer in silence and carry on working in toxic environments.

You are so right a career break is more positive than continuing to work in a toxic environment. I appreciate the comments but everyone situation is different. I cannot go into details but my career break/unemployment was needed. It was also not a spur of the moment decision and do not regret it. The teething problems that I having explaining my career break can be sorted out. I am not looking to start a new job until April. So I have given myself plenty of time to job hunt.